Disappearing pedal for automatic pianos.



PATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

M. CLARK. DISAPPEARING PEDAL FOR AUTOMATIC PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.10, 1905.

..- H W Y T "7 "f' TL'NTYF t. Fig Q w it) idit llittid KdhA-Tihig M ELVILIJE CLARK, OF CHICAGO, iLLilflCliS.

so. serene.

7 Specification of Letters Patent.

I Application filed November 10, 1905. Serial Ho. 286,53 .16;

an improved puinper-p'edal mechanism for operating the bellows of the automatic playing devices in an automatic piano adapted to be moved back out of operative position and substantially concealed when not in use.

It consists of the features of construction which are set out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a fore-and-aft vertical section through the pedal. devices and so much of the case as necessary to show the relation of said devices thereto. Fig. 2 is a detail fore-and-aft section of the lower part of the case in the same plane as Fig.1, showing the pedals in the position occupied when out of use. Fig. 3 is a detail. front elevation showing the pedahconnecting rods folded up out of operative-position, Fig. 4 is a plan View of the pedals'and pedal-frame. Fig. 5 is a detail section, on an enlarged scale, at the line 5 5 on Fig. 2.

In the drawings a usual construction of upright piano-case is represented comprising front board 1 and bottom board 2, which is sustained at a distance of from two to three inches above the floor by casters 3. Rails 4 4, forming parallel slideways, extend fore and aft onthe under side of the bottoinjboard, be-

ing preferably b'ol ted thereto and spaced therefrom by suitable blocks or hangers 6 6 aiid'the check-rail 1'9 hereinafter mentioned.

Theserails serve as a supporting track for a three-sided pedal-frame 7, which consists of fore-and-ait paralleliside bars 7 *1, extending from opposite ends of; the frontbar or inter' mediate side of the frame, and on this forward or intermediate side bar pedals 8 8 are pivoted at llllfill heels for vertical oscillation at their forward end. The sidebars 7 ofthe frame 7 are preferably connected by a rod 7 which eX- tends under the toe ends of the pedals and serves as a stop for the downward movement of the latter, suitable rubber bumpers 9 9 being provided to deadoii the sound of the contact of the pedals with the rod. In the construction shown lOrepresents the receiver or main eX- haust-bellows, the numpers l 1 11 being located siideway above the foundation-board i2, below which said receiver is mounted. The pu'mpers are operated in this particular construction by a lever-arm 13 at the rear end of a fore-and-aft extending rock-shaft is, which has at its forward end a second levererni'ifi. The-pedals are connected with the respective lever-arms 15 by connecting-rods 16. Each of these rods has at the lower end an eye 1 6 which is large enough at the upper part to pass over the head of a screw 17', set iiito the outer edge of a pedal, the lower part of the eyebeing of suitable size to pivot on the body of the screw and not permit escape over' the head. The upper endv of the rod is provided with an adjustable eye 18, having a stem 18 which is hollow and interiorly threaded and of sufficient length to per'niitan adequate range of ad ustment for modifying. the operative length of the connecting-rod by screwin the eye more or less onto the upper end 0 the rod, which is threaded for. that purpose. The eye 18 en ages the hooked end of the leverarm 15 or operating the pumper. The frame '7 adapted to be lodged upon the se 4, and the said slideways are suspended at a sufficient distance below the up- 'der side of the bottom board to afford room for said frame and the pedals thereon, so'that the entire structure, except the detachable connecting-rods 16, may slide back under the bottom board and be concealed from sight.

At the rear end of each of the side bars '7 of the frame 7 a pin '7 projects outwardly for engaging under a check-rail 19, which may conveniently be secured by the same bolts which carry the slideway-rails 4 4. ,lhis check-rail is provided with a stop 19" at the rear end to limit the inward or rearward movement of the pedal-frame and pedals,,

and it has also a similar stop 19 in the path of the pm for limiting the outward or forward movement when the pedals are withdrawn into operative position. From a point below and a little rearward of the sto 19 the slideway-rail 6 is cut away! to give i s uppersurfacc a slight slope corresponding to the' inclination of the pedal-frame when its heel rests upon the floor, thus causing or permitting said frame to fulcrum on the slidewayrails at the angle where the slope commenses.

A convenient method for preventing the pedal-fra1ne from being forced backward or inward by the use of the pedals is shown in Fig. 1 in which are shown the slideway-rails of a rocking be t or catch 23, mounted on inga nose or en aging terminal to be-rocked in ront of the end of" the checkone is shown mounted on the under side of 5 of the bottom board.

-- at the lower part of the case; :2 pedal-frame pins 7 to be carried upward into a notch 15),

tending fore and aft at the lower part of the case the pedal-frame supported and adapted to sli on such frame and pumpenoperating CUHUS'LF g eee 4 4, extended suiiiciently forward. oi the sto ii 19", so that the pedal-frame fulcrunnng over them to reach the floor at the heel causes the formed in the check-rail 19 at this point for that purpose, thus preventing any rearward movement so long as the heel of the pedalframe remains on the floor; but h lifting the pedal-frame to horizontal position the pin clears this notch and the rearward movement, as described, can be made. When for any reason this mode of locking the pedalframe at operative position is not re riled as sufficiently positive or reliable, use only: be made of a more ositive loch, whieh consists each of the side bars 7 of the frame 7, haw 23, adapted rail 19.

The rods 16 when detached from the edals may be swung up outwardly l edged in'the felt-lined forks 24, (of WlilCSl thefkey-table 25.)

I claim- 1. In combination Withthe bottom board of a piano-case, a pumper-pedal 'iHLIN P and pumper-pedals mounted thereon adap l to pass under the bottom board, and Sli(l(.l)lli'S for such frame supported on the undeaside 2. In combination With a piano-case, parallel, substantially horizontal slideways eX- de on said sliclewa s nedals mounted tions detachably connected to the pedals.

3. In combination With a pi; i :ase, substantially horizontal fore-ended slidimounted for sliding on said sh eways adapted-to be drawn thereon forward of the front E b0ard;.pedals mounted on such irame and l hanging the path of the stop-pin )ps at the ioiwaid ends ol' said rahevle-hars in the path of; the pins, the slideways being; cut away at the forward ends to permit the pednt-hame to 'l'ulcruin the n l'or swinging dovra'nvmd when the stop-pins reach the stops.

i eomhiimtioo with a pimio-case, parallel ioie-aun-nlt slideways suspended from the under side of 0 bottom board: a pedal frame mounted l oi sliding on such slideways and pedals tho eoi' said l'raine and pedals being: wisp-ted to pass entirely under the bottom board in sue i in combine aft slidm mounted on the under side ol' the bottom board; a pedal l'ranie and pedals thereon adapted to pass under the hotton'i boar. s unorunnf on said slid-sways,

do pun'lp 31-. rating eonnee- )1 (l 5 lo oi the front board, in l y u hereof .l. i'tav'e h unto set luv hand, in the pie once oi two W messe at (,nicaggo, Illinois, this 7th de ot'oinoer, 1905i iIiL LTJILLE SLAB K.

AL n presence oi- J. Aneo'ir hi. (lniz'zianiim 1591. 

